Physics Engineering Geoscience Department Web-Page

The Department of Physics, Engineering, and Geoscience offers a number of courses in geological topics that can form an important part of any programme in the sciences or geography.

The Geoscience staff members are L. Ferguson, D.J. Mossman and J. Ollerhead. The head of the department is P. Varma from Engineering.

At the introductory level there are basic geoscience courses that are excellent choices as science electives for Arts students. They also form the foundation for further studies that relate to environmental issues. Students intending to concentrate on Chemistry, Biology, Engineering or Geography should definitely consider these courses. The courses in oceanography, Hydrogeology and geomorphology are also designed to emphasize aspects of earth science that are important in a variety of study programmes and careers such as marine Biology. The study of mineralogy relates to courses in physics and chemistry, while the courses in paleontology are popular choices for Biology students. The courses in geoscience form a wide bridge to relate other studies to the problems of the real world.

Apart from these connections, one's innate curiosity about the physical world around us and under our feet, and about the complex processes of past and present ages, is a perfectly good reason for studying these topics, and the knowledge gained thereby will be recognized as the mark of a liberally educated person.

The department's huge organized collections of minerals, rocks, fossils, and geological maps and charts constitute an unusually fine resource for student and staff activities in teaching and research.

Consult the Physics, Engineering and Geoscience Department handbook for further details on courses and facilities.

Programme Of Study

MINOR in Geoscience is 24 credits earned as follows:
• 3 from Geoscience 1011.
• 3 from Geoscience 1021, 2031.
• 18 from Geosciences, including 6 from the 3/4000 levels chosen with the Programme Advisor.

1001 INTRODUCTORY OCEANOGRAPHY
A study of the oceans and their relationship to our land environment. An interdisciplinary approach is emphasized, including geological, physical, chemical and biological aspects of offshore and deep-water oceanography. Topics include: history of oceanography, exploration techniques, instruments and vessels, structure of Earth, origin of oceans and ocean basins, physiography of ocean basins, marine sediments, submarine volcanism, waves, tides, ocean currents, climatology and sea level changes, marine ecology and marine resources.
Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week.
Prereq: None.

1011 DYNAMICS OF THE EARTH
(An Introduction to Physical Geoscience)
An introductory course in Physical Geoscience which provides a basis for further courses in Geoscience. Main topics of study are the origin, evolution and structure of the Earth; the origin and dynamics of ocean basins, continents and mountain ranges are dealt with in a consideration of plate tectonics; organization of matter - into minerals, crystals and gems; the nature and distribution of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks; the work of water and ice and air in erosion and the transportation of sediment.
Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week.

1021 EARTH HISTORY
(The Record of Global Change & Life on Earth)
An introductory half course in Historical Geoscience which emphasizes the geological evolution of the earth as well as its plants and animals. This half course is complementary to Geoscience 1011 and ideally should be taken after completion of the half course of Physical Geoscience. However, it can be taken independently. The principles of stratigraphy (historical Geoscience) and Paleontology (the study of ancient life through fossils) are covered briefly as well as various aspects of Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology and the Evolution and Extinction of life.

Paleontological and stratigraphic evidence for "Continental Drift" is presented and the interrelationship of the concepts of Continental Drift, Ocean Floor Spreading, and Plate Tectonics is covered along with their historical development. The record of "global change" in climate, faunal and floral distribution and the distribution of present and past continents and oceans is covered. The historical development of the Geological Time Scale or Time Order Scale and its calibration is an integral part of the course.
Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory period per week.
Prereq: None, but Geoscience 1011 is highly recommended.

2031 GLOBAL CHANGE
(Perspectives on Environmental Geoscience)
An introductory level course dealing with the interactions of the environment and the Earth - particularly those aspects of the environment influenced by civilization and vice versa. The course gives an overview of major natural processes and geologic hazards which influence civilization, with detailed consideration of natural flooding, landslides, coastal processes and erosion, earthquakes and volcanoes as well as hydroGeoscience and groundwater. It also deals with the effect of civilization on the physical environment - particularly on surficial deposits and near surface crustal rocks or bedrock e.g. the contamination of groundwater and surface waters by waste disposal (including nuclear waste); Acid Rain, Radon gas and the "Greenhouse Effect.
Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory period per week.

2101 COASTAL OCEANOGRAPHY
A 2000 level three unit course complementary to Geoscience 1001 (General Oceanography) in which the focus is the offshore and deep sea oceanography. The course emphasizes North American Atlantic coastal and new shore environments and the interactions among chemical, geological, physical and biological phenomena. Included are methods of study, estuarine systems, sediment regimes, waves, beaches, tides, marshes, deltas, rocky shores, mudflats, barrier islands, reefs and coastal classifications. Special attention is given to sea level changes, erosion and pollution problems.

2201 CRYSTALLOGRAPHY AND MINERALOGY
Elements of the chemical, physical and optical properties of minerals are reviewed against a background of their atomic structures as manifest in crystal morphologies. Emphasis on crystal structures, and the lattice symmetries inherent in the 32 crystal classes. Laboratory work includes a systematic study of the crystal systems and the methods of identifying and characterizing minerals, with focus on the identification and evaluation of gemstones.
Prereq: Geoscience 1011; or Physics 1551 and Mathematics 2111; or permission of the Department.

2401 GEOMORPHOLOGY
Geomorphology is the science that treats the general configuration of the Earth's surface. It deals with the description, classification, nature, origin and development of present land forms and their relationships to underlying geological structures and the history of geologic events recorded by these surface features. As such it treats the larger geomorphic features resulting from plate tectonics such as the formation of major fold ranges of mountains and submarine trenches, and related volcanism as well as rift systems. Landforms resulting from erosion and from deposition are treated in connection with their respective environments e.g. coastal environments, continental and alpine glaciation, fluvial systems, piedmont and glaciation, fluvial systems, piedmont and deserts. Bolide impact craters will also be studied. The surface processes of weathering and mass wasting will be dealt with together with glacial, fluvial, aeolian and coastal processes of erosion and deposition.
Three lectures and one 3 hour laboratory per week.
Prereq: Geoscience 1011, and 1021.

2501 HYDROGEOLOGY
This course introduces the student to the science that deals with subsurface waters (groundwater) and with related geological aspects of surface water hydrology. The course will deal with hydrogeologic principles as well as concepts and processes that control the occurrence, movement, storage and chemical character of groundwater. It will also describe the basic relation of hydrogeology to other sub-disciplines of Geoscience such as geomorphology, stratigraphy and structure and will deal briefly with problems of groundwater pollution resulting from waste disposal and salt-water intrusion and contamination in coastal areas.
Prereq: Geoscience 1011 and 1021.

3001 PRINCIPLES OF GEOCHEMISTRY
A broad introduction to the principles of geochemistry of rocks and rock-forming minerals; geochemical cycles; isotope Geology; exploration geochemistry; and the application of geochemistry to man's environment.
Prereq: Geoscience 1011, Chemistry 1001 and 1021; or permission of the Department.

3111 COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY
This lecture, laboratory, and field course introduces coastal geomorphology by emphasizing current theories of coastal processes set in the context of natural systems.
Note: This course is cross-listed as Geography 3111. Geography 3111 students complete a reduced laboratory requirement and an enhanced term paper/assignment component. Students can register for Either Geoscience 3111 or Geography 3111, with a Science credit only available for Geoscience 3111.
Prereq: Geoscience 2101 and 2401.

3411 INVERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
A study of invertebrate organisms and their development through geological time as shown by the fossil record. In addition to treating the significant anatomical features of the major invertebrate phyla their paleoecology is also studied. The adequacy of the fossil record as a record of organic evolution is examined. The use of fossils for geologic dating and correlation is also emphasized.
Prereq: Geoscience 1011 and 1021; or Biology 2401; or permission of the Department.

4211 MICROPALEONTOLOGY
Micropaleontology is the study of microscopic fossils. As such it embraces the study of not only entire organisms of minute proportions but also the study of microscopic parts of larger organisms. Emphasis will be placed on the study of fossil Protozoans such as Foraminifera and Radiolaria and also on Ostracoda. The paleoecology of each will also be dealt with.
Prereq: Geoscience 3411; or permission of the Department.

4950 SPECIAL TOPICS IN GEOSCIENCE
A course to permit an advanced student to pursue a special field of study, or to take advantage of a different approach under the direction of an appropriate staff member. Each student's programme will be planned individually using lectures, reading, tutorials, laboratory work, etc.
Prereq: Permission of the Department. Each student must obtain, prior to registration, consent of a staff member who is willing to supervise his work.

4951 SPECIAL TOPICS IN GEOSCIENCE
Up to two of these three credit courses (all similar to 4950) may be taken in lieu of Geoscience 4950. The same regulations apply to them as to Geoscience 4950.

The following courses will not be offered in the foreseeable future:

2001 OPTICAL MINERALOGY
2101 FIELD GEOLOGY
2311 INTRODUCTORY TO PETROLOGY
3101 STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY AND PHYSIOGRAPHY
3111 GLOBAL TECTONICS
3201 THE PRINCIPLES OF STRATIGRAPHY
3321 IGNEOUS PETROLOGY
3331 SEDIMENTARY PETROLOGY
4011 PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
4021 MINERAL DEPOSITS OF MAGMATIC ASSOCIATION
4031 MINERAL DEPOSITS OF SEDIMENTARY ORIGIN
4111 METAMORPHIC PETROLOGY
4301 THE STRATIGRAPHY OF NORTH AMERICA
4331 PETROLOGY OF VOLCANIC ROCKS
4401 TOPICS IN GEOCHEMISTRY
4990 HONOURS THESIS

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